School’s out, but learning doesn’t stop with these fun and engaging Independence Day themed science activities.
1. If your kids love slime or if you just want to introduce a new sensory experience, try this sparkly 4th of July slime by Little Bins for Little Hands. For each batch of slime, you’ll need ½ cup of clear Elmer’s glue, ½ cup water, food coloring, glitter, ½ tsp baking soda, 1 TBS saline solution. You’ll need to make three batches for the red, white, and blue swirled effect.
Step 1: Combine clear glue and water. Stir thoroughly.
Step 2: Add glitter, baking soda, and food coloring.
Step 3: Add saline solution and mix.
Step 4: Mix well until a slimy blob forms in the bowl.
Step 5: Knead well.
2. These fizzy ice stars from Teaching Mama are so much fun. You’ll need a star ice cube tray, 1 cup of water, food coloring, ½ cup baking soda, bowl of vinegar, a tray, and a dropper.
Step 1: Mix 1 cup of water and ½ cup baking soda. Add a few drops of food coloring and mix well.
Step 2: Pour the mixture into the ice cube tray. You may need to scoop in the baking soda since it tends to sit at the bottom of the mixture.
Step 3: Once the cubes are frozen, pop them out of the mold and place the stars on a tray or plate.
Step 4: Fill the dropper with vinegar and squirt on the frozen stars. Watch them fizz!
3. This next science is so cool, it’s sure to amaze your kids! Fireworks in a glass is brought to you by Paging Fun Mums. For this experiment, you’ll need food coloring, warm water, and oil (vegetable, olive).
Step 1: Fill glass ¾ of the way to the top with warm water.
Step 2: In a separate glass, add a few tablespoons of oil and a few drops of food coloring of different colors.
Step 3: With a fork, stir the oil and food coloring mixture to break up the color beads into smaller ones.
Step 4: Pour the oil and food coloring mixture into the warm water and watch the fireworks!
4. Get a load of this Popping Firecracker Goop by Growing a Jeweled Rose. This is an inexpensive experiment and kids and adults alike love goop! You’ll need corn starch, baking soda, Pop Rocks, and food coloring.
Step 1: Slowly add water to the corn starch until you have your desired consistency.
Step 2: Add the Pop Rocks! You can not only hear them popping, but you can feel it when you scoop the goop into your hands. That’s a new sensory experience for your little one!
Step 3: Add a bit of blue and red food coloring to bring in that Independence Day feel!
5. The Science Kiddo brings us film canister rocket fireworks, and this not only looks fun, but your kids will create a masterpiece to keep! You’ll need 35 mm film canisters, tempera paint, glitter (optional), Alka-Seltzer tablets, and a white poster board.
Step 1: Fill each canister about ¼ of the way full with tempera paint. Add glitter if desired.
Step 2: Place your poster board on the ground. Drop a half tablet of Alka-Seltzer into each canister and shake well. Place the canister upside down onto the poster board and stand back!
Step 3: Watch as the film canisters blow open leaving a beautiful paint splatter on your poster board. Do this over the board in red, white, and blue for festive firework art!